damned. A beautiful paradise in Hell.
The cars sweep into a large drive set before the biggest mansion I think I have ever seen. Beautiful flowers decorate a white building that obscures the terror within its walls. Unlike my own home, this is modern and bang up to date, with huge pillars and modern lanterns with a composite driveway that must have cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to have made.
However, the most interesting thing of all about this house is the welcoming committee because standing waiting are three men. Unlike the guards, these men are dressed differently and there is no mistaking their power. Three men who exude a confidence that tells me immediately who they are because these men are not guards, but why they are waiting is what intrigues me the most. The Romanos.
Maverick is still beside me and I daren’t even breathe. He is so tense I’m sure that one false move and he would shatter into a million pieces. There is so much tension in the air as the door opens and a guard says reverently, “Welcome home Mr Romano.”
I stare at him in shock. What did he just call Maverick? This can’t be happening. Before I can comment, Maverick exits the car and straightens up outside, before turning and offering me his hand.
Still, he says nothing and as he helps me from the car, the same man says, “Welcome, Miss. Moretti.”
I nod and stare in shock at the faces of the men who wait. There is no mistaking them—all of them. The Romano brothers and Maverick is one of them.
I watch in disbelief as he heads toward them and I don’t miss the interest in their eyes as he stops and says, “Brothers, it’s been a long time.”
One by one, they step forward and I shiver inside. It’s too much power in one place because these men are the cruelest of gods. Devastating good looks, more money than the reserves and an edge to them that tells you one false move and you’re dead.
I feel their interest and tremble inside. I stand like a lamb to the slaughter before three predators with capture in their sights.
One of them steps forward and says courteously, “Miss Moretti, we are honored to receive you in our home. You have obviously met Lorenzo, allow me to introduce the rest of the family. My name is Lucian and these are my brothers Romeo and Dante. We would like to welcome you to our home as a most welcome guest.”
I feel their stares stripping me bare as I struggle to maintain a disinterested façade and just smile politely. “I am honored to be here.”
Maverick turns to me and looks bored. “Maybe someone could show our guest to her quarters, we have a lot to discuss.”
One of the brothers moves his head slightly and a woman comes hurrying out dressed in a maid’s uniform and smiles warmly. “Welcome, Miss. Moretti, please follow me and I’ll show you to your quarters.”
Grateful to escape the obviously awkward homecoming, I don’t even look back as I follow her inside.
22
Maverick
I breathe a sigh of relief as Agatha takes Sophia inside because just her presence was setting me on edge. The fact my brothers were waiting told me everything I needed to know. This is not going to be easy and I need to maintain a cool head which I can’t do when she is around.
Lucian nods and says in a low voice, “We should take this inside. You are right, business comes first.”
As I follow my brothers inside a house I know only too well, I feel the walls dragging me back to a place I considered a prison for far too long. We head along the hallway to the den at the end of it. The usual place of business and as we walk, I can tell that nothing has changed. I left this place three years ago, almost to the day, and never thought I’d come back. The fact I’m here is a very big thing, which is why my brothers waited on the steps. Respect, that was the reason because they know only too well that one word is all it would take to rock their world and they will want to keep me sweet.
So, as we head inside the office and take our places, I ignore my usual seat and stand at the window overlooking the pool instead. I ignore the seat I was born to fill, preferring to stare at the